Flexible support



No. 625,9!7. Patented May 30, I899.

W. S. ARNOLD. FLEXIBLE SUPPORT UR BRACKET.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1898.)

('No Model.)

ported theheby.

WILLIAM S. ARNOLD, OF SAN FRANCI SCO,CALIFORNIA,ASSIGNOR or ONE- HALF T0HEINRICH MELLMANN, o'F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FLEXIBLE SUPPORT on siaagoaiz'r.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,917, dated May 30,1899. Application fine December22,].89i!. swarm. 699.994. on model.)

"1'0 all, whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. ARNOL a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Supportsor Brackets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to a certain newand useful flexible support orbracket for use more especially in connection with incandescent orelectric lights, which consists in the arrangement of parts and detailsof construction, as

will be hereinafter fully set forth in the draw-j ings and described andpointed out in the.

specification.

The object of the invention is to so construct a support or bracketwhich, while permitting of being adjusted into various posi tionswhereby the lamp -or article upheld thereby possess sufiicientrigidityto firmly hold the lamp or article carried or supported therebyin such adjusted position, at the same time possessing such pliabilityas will permit of its being readily bent or coiled into any desiredshape without liability of breaking.

In order to comprehend the invention, reference must be had to theaccompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part ofthis applica+ tion,wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of the bracket or support heeured to asuitable base at one end, which is illustrated in section, the samebeing shown with an incandescent lamp sup- Fig. 2 is a similar viewdisclosing the various features of construction going to make up thebracket or support,

Fig. 3 is a broken detail sectional view of that end of the bracket orsupport to which the lampor article to be displayed is secured.- Fig. 4is a similar view disclosing the relative position which thestrengthening-wires assume as the bracket or support is bent over; andFig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on linear: ac, Fig. 1.

In the drawings the letter A is used to indicate any suitable style ofbase oi-stand to which the bracket or support is attached.

"ihe bracket or support is formed of a hollow may be varied as toposition, will core A, consisting, preferably, of resilient coiled wireextending throughout the entire length of the support orbracket, and anouter covering A preferably of coiled steel or compressed spring.Between the inner-core and outer covering and around the former Iarrange a series of parallel'strengthening wires .or rods B, possessingsufficient flexibility to permit of the same bending freely withoutbreaking. Preferably these strengthening wires or rods are made ofcopper, and in number about fourteen are employed, although the numbermay be increased or decreased, as desired. Over one end of the partsthus arranged is fitted the capor ferrule B, within which is cemented,soldered, or otherwise rigidly secured one end of outer covering A innercore A, and the wires or rods B. This cap or ferrule is formed with thescrewcured within the screw-threaded opening a of the base A, althoughany other suitable form parts. Upon the opposite or free end of theoutercovering A is removably secured the cap or ferrule E through thereduced screwthreaded end I) of which works the free end of the innercore A.

Within this cap or ferrule also extends or projects the free ends of thestrengthening wires or rods B, which at this end are unsecured in orderto play back and forth between t-heouter covering A." and'inner core Aas the bracket or support is bent into var-ious positions or coiled. Itis of importance that the said strengthening rods or wires be free atthis end and permitted longitudinal play, for if secured or tied at thisend against movement the flexibility of the bracket or support would notonly be destroyed, but the said rods or wires would quickly break byrepeated bending of the support or bracket, and the utility of thebracket or support thusbe destroyed. liy reference to Fig. 4 of thedrawings the position which the strengthening wires or rods assumerelative to eacltot-her as the support or bracket is bent or turned willbe readily understood.

To the reduced end I) of cap or ferrule B lamp 0, with which connect theelectric wires threaded end a, by means of which it is se-.

of connection may be made between these is rcmovably secured the socketC of the 1 2, passing freely through-the inner core A. Inasmuch as thecore A' is a hollow one, the wires 1 2 pass therethrough and form nopart of thebracketorsupportproper. Consequently the said wires may beremoved without necessitating the destruction of the bracket or support,or by simply disconnecting the wires from the lamp the said bracket orsupport may be removed without disturbing the wires.

While I have illustrated the invention as serving thepurpose ofsupporting an electric lamp, it is obvious that its use is not thusconfined. For instance, the same may be used in show-windows for thedisplay of goods, such as boots or shoes. When thus used, it will benecessary to secure a shoe-form to the cap or ferrule B In fact, thebracket or sup port may be used for any purpose requiring a pliable orflexible arm having sufiicient rigidity to maintain the position intowhich it is placed.

In order to prevent the bracket or support being bent or turned downwardat too great an angle to the cap or ferrule B, I introduce into theseries of strengthening wires or rods 15, secured within said cap orferrule, a short wire or rod 0. This rod or wire is firmly securedwithin said cap or ferrule and extends, with the wires or rods B, ashort distance beyond the inner end of the cap or ferrule, Fig.Byanaking this rod C of steel or heavier material than,the wires orlrods B greater resistance will be given to the bracketor support atthis end, thus preventing the same being bent at a sharp angle to thecap or ferrule B and overcoming danger of the support or bracketbreaking at such point.

This rod will be referred to in the claims, in'

order to prevent confusion, as a supplement-a strengthening-rod.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure protection in by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A flexible support orbracket having an inner hollow core, an outer coiled metallic coveringfor said core, and a series of 'paral-' lel strengthening wires or rodsarranged between the core and the outer coil, said wires or rods andcore being rigidly connected at one end to the outer coil but freethereof at their opposite ends whereby give longitudinally as thebracket or support is turned or bent.

2. In a flexible support or bracket, the combination with an inner core,of an outer covering within which said core is incloscd, and a series ofparallel strengthening wires or rods arranged between said core andouter covering, said wires or rods and core being rigidly connected atone end to the outer covering but free thereof at their opposite endswhereby the same may give longitudinally as the bracket or support isturned or bent.

3. A flexible support or bracket having an inner core, an outer coveringtherefor, a sethe same may ries of strengthening wires or .rods arrangedI between the core and covering, a cap or ferrule for connecting thesupport or bracket to a suitable base and to which the core, coveringand strengthening wires are rigidly secured at are permittedlongitudinal movement as the support or bracket is bent or turned, audof' one end, and a cap or ferrule secured to the a supplemental rodarranged within the support or bracket at its base in order to preventan abrupt bend being made at or near the base thereof.

In testimony whereof I have allixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 13th day of December, 1898.

WILLIAMxS. ARNOLD.

Witnesses:

N. A. ACKER, W. F. VANE.

